The art of not being neutral in qualitative research

ABSTRACT This article is a contribution to the ongoing dispute about ethical and methodological standards of neutrality within qualitative research. By invoking the notions of friendship-based research and situated ethics, we discuss important ethical dilemmas that can arise in research processes when informant and researcher develop friendship-like relations. We consider the benefits and drawbacks of such an approach, especially when working within sensitive fields – in this case, the impact of psychiatric diagnoses and gang exit processes on identity formation. We challenge traditional ideals of personal non-involvement in qualitative research, particularly with regard to ethical issues by analyzing and discussing a case of unforeseen events during the establishment of a research group that transformed a formal informant – researcher relationship into friendship-based research.